Description
The Legend written below here I found it on the site Il Bazar di Mari , if you are interested you have myths and legends of Asia.. read! (Ps. being is an Italian site unfortunately it is only in Italian, but I believe that with the translator has no big problems)
THE STORY
More than seven hundred years ago, in Dan-no-Ura, Shimonoseki Strait, the final battle of the long war between the Heiké clan and the Genji clan was fought. The Heikes all died, including women, children, and the heir of the Emperor, who is named after Antoku Tennō.
On that beach are strange crabs called "Heiké", with human faces on the back. It is said to be the spirits of warriors Heiké.
But among the strange things you can see and hear along that coast there are also thousands of fat burning fires that hang on the beach in dark nights or float on the sea, pale lights that fishermen call Oni-bi, that is, "fires of demons" and every time the wind blows, there are high shouts coming out of the sea, similar to the clamor of a battle.
In the past years, the Heikes were much more restless than they are now. They climbed the ships overnight trying to sunk and watched always in search of swimmers to be drawn underwater. Just to appease those dead, Amidaji's Buddhist temple was built at Akamagasheki. Immediately next to the temple, in the immediate vicinity of the beach, a cemetery was built and inside there were monuments with engraved names of the drowned Emperor and his great samurai. In addition to this, regular Buddhist rituals were celebrated in honor of their souls in the temple.
After the building of the temple and the erection of the tombs, Heiké gave less disturbance, but they continued to do strange things periodically, proving they had not found perfect peace.
Some centuries ago, Akamagasheki lived a blind man named Hoichi, famous for his exceptional ability to play and play biwa. As a child he had been instructed to play and play, and when he was still a boy, he had passed the masters. As Biwa-Hoichi became especially famous for his acting on the history of Heiké and Genji. It was said that when he sang the story of Dan-no-Ura's battle, "even the Kijin [goblins] could not hold back the tears."
At the beginning of his career, Hoichi was very poor, but he knew a good friend who helped him: the priest of Amidaji. He was passionate about poetry and music and often invited Hôiques to the temple to play and play. Later, very impressed by the exceptional talent of the boy, the priest offered Hôichi to go to the temple, and the boy accepted the offer with gratitude. Hoichi received a room in the temple building and in return for food and lodging he simply had to delight the priest with a musical performance on the nights when he had no commitments.
On a summer evening the priest was called to celebrate a Buddhist service in the home of a faithful dead man. He went out with the acolytes and left Hoichi alone in the temple. It was a hot evening, and the blind guy was looking for a little cooler on the porch in front of his room. The porch looked out over a small garden on the back of Amidaji. Hoichi stood there waiting for the return of the priest and tried to relieve his solitude by exercising with the biwa. It passed midnight, and the priest did not return. It was still too hot to retire to the room, so Hoichi was out. At some point he heard the steps approaching the back gate. Someone crossed the garden, approached the veranda and stopped directly in front of him. He was not the priest. A deep voice called the blind boy by name, with an abrupt and unassuming tone, like a samurai who turned to a lower one:
"Hoichi!"
"Eek!!" The man replied, shivering at the sound of that threatening voice. "I'm blind, I can not see who calls me!"
"Do not be afraid," said the stranger, speaking more kindly. "I came to the temple because I was sent to you with a message. My present Lord, a person of the highest rank, is in Akamagasheki with many nobles of his followers. She wanted to see the battle of Dan-no-ura and today she has gone from here. Having heard your ability to play the story of that battle, you want to listen to your interpretation. So take your biwa and come with me right away to the house where the party is waiting. "
At that time one could not easily disobey the order of a samurai. Hoichi put on his sandals, took the biwa and followed the stranger, which was a great guide but forced him to walk very fast. The hand he was driving was iron and the metallic noise produced by the warrior's step showed that he was fully armed, perhaps a guard of the building in service. The first fears of Hôichi had vanished: he thought he was very lucky because, recalling that the man had talked of a "person of the highest rank", he thought that the Lord who wanted to hear his execution had to be at least a daimyo before class. Shortly afterwards, the samurai stopped, and Hôichi realized that they had come to a large gate, and that surprised him, because he could not remember any big gate in that part of the city, except for the main gate of Amidaji.
"Kaimon!" Said the samurai. There was the sound of open latches, and the two passed past. They crossed a garden and stopped again in front of an entrance. The companion shouted:
"You, inside! I brought Hoichi! "
Then they heard the noise of their feet hanging, the sliding panels, and the doors opening, along with rumors of conversing women. From the language of women, Hoichi realized that they were the maids of a noble house, but could not imagine what place had been taken. He did not have much time to think. After having been helped to climb some stone steps, the latter of which was told to take off his sandals, a woman's hand led him through an endless row of shiny floors, run from a corridor to the other, flanked by columns, too many to remember them, and immense rooms covered with mats, to the center of a large apartment. Hoichi realized that many people had to be gathered in that room: the silk rustle remembered the sound of the leaves in a forest. He also heard a great murmur of voices that spoke slowly: they were the voices of court people.
He was told to put himself at ease, and found a pillow ready for him. After having put on it and having given his instrument, the voice of a woman - whom he imagined to be the Rojo, that is, who was at the head of female servitude - turned to him, saying,
"You are asked to recite the history of Heiké, accompanying you with the biwa."
The story of the whole story would continue for many evenings, so Hoichi asked a question:
"If it was not possible to recite the whole story, which part would you prefer to hear the high Lord?"
The voice of the woman replied:
"Tells the story of Dan-no-Ura's battle, because it's the most moving part."
Then Hoichi put out his voice and sang the story of the battle on the salt sea, making the biwa resonate in a wonderful way to imitate the efforts of the rowers and the frenetic motion of the ships, the hiss and the crash of the arrows, the screams and the trampling of the men, the swing of the spears on the elms, the thunder of the fallen in shaky waves. And everywhere, in the pauses of execution, he could hear the voices of those who whispered his praises: "What a wonderful artist!", "In our province, nobody ever heard how to sound like Hoichi!"
A new courage animated him, played and sang even better than before, and a deep silence spread over him, filled with wonder. But when he finally came to tell the fate of the loyal and helpless people, the miserable death of women and children, and the dive into the deep sea of Nii-no-Ama with the infant imperial in his arms, then all the listeners emitted together a long cry of horror and anguish; then they groaned and laughed so loudly and wildly that the blind singer shivered for the violent and painful reaction that he had aroused. Long tears and laments continued. Then, at a time, the sad sounds went out, and in the great silence followed by Hôichi heard the voice of the woman he thought was the Rojo.
The woman said,
"Even if you had assured us that you were a great biwa performer and did not fear comparisons in acting, we did not think that someone was so good as tonight you showed us. Our Lord is pleased to tell you that he is going to give you a fair reward, but he wants you to sing and sing every night for the next six nights, after which he will probably embark on his august return journey. So tomorrow night you will have to come back here at the same time. The samurai who guided you tonight will come back to you.
"Something else I was commanded to inform you. You are asked not to talk to anyone about your visit here all the time that our august lord will be in Akamagasheki. Since he is traveling in incognito, he orders you not to speak of this. And now you are free to return to the temple. "
After Hoichi had expressed the thanks, the woman took him by the hand and led him to the entrance of the house, where the samurai who had led him to the front was waiting for him to accompany him home. He led him to the veranda on the back of the temple and greeted him.
When Hôichi arrived, he was about to dawn, but his absence from the temple had not been noticed because the priest, back in a very late hour, had thought he was already asleep.
During the day Hoichi managed to rest a little and did not tell anyone his strange adventure. The following night the samurai came back to him and led him from the inaugural assembly, where he recited again getting the success of his previous performance. But that second night his absence from the temple was noticed, and after he had returned the following morning, he was called by the priest who said in a tone of gentle reproach:
"We have been very sorry for you, loved Hoichi. Get out late at night, blind as you are and alone is dangerous. Why did you go without telling me? I could have ordered a servant to accompany you. And where have you been? "
Hoichi answered inevitably:
"I beg your pardon, my kind friend! I had to deal with a private matter and could not settle the matter in a different time. "
The priest was more surprised than sorry for Hoichi's reticence: he felt that he was not natural and suspected that something bad was happening. He feared that the blind boy was a victim of a wicked tale or was enchanted by a malevolent spirit. He did not ask him anything but took the men who served the temple and instructed them to control the movements of Hoichi and follow him if he had left the temple after it had become dark. Just the next evening, Hôïchi was seen leaving the temple. Then the servants immediately came to the lanterns and followed him. But it was a rainy night and very dark, so before they could leave the temple and go out into the street, Hoichi had disappeared. Evidently he had walked very quickly, oddly, because he was blind and the road was in bad shape. The men rushed in the streets, asking for all the houses to which Hoichi usually visited, but no one was able to provide his news. Finally, as they came back to the temple on the way down the river, they whistled to hear the sound of a biwa sounded in the Amidaji cemetery. Apart from some faded fires - which were commonplace during the dark nights - in that direction everything was dark. Immediately the men rushed to the cemetery where, with the help of the lanterns, they discovered Hôiques, sitting alone in the rain in front of the Antoku Tennò mausoleum, played the biwa and sang loudly the story of the Dan-no battle -ura. And in front of him and everywhere above the graves, the fires of the dead burned like candles. No one had ever seen such a large number of Oni-bi appearing at the sight of a mortal ...
"Hoichi San! Hoichi San! "The servants shouted," You're hex! Up Hoichi San! "
But it seemed that the blind man did not hear them. He echoed, echoed, rang the biwa; with ever-growing energy singing the story of Dan-no-Ura's battle.
They grabbed him and shouted:
"Hoichi San! Hoichi San! Come right away with us! "
In the tone of reproach, Hochchi said to them:
"You will not be tolerated that you would interrupt me before the Lord's consent."
Then, in spite of the supernatural situation, the servants could not restrain laughter. He had certainly been sorry, so they grabbed him, made him stand up and brought him back to the temple with a lively force. When they arrived here, they released him from wet clothes by order of the priest. Then the priest insisted why Hoichi provided him with an exhaustive explanation of his strange behavior.
Hoichi hesitated a long time before speaking. But finally, realizing that his conduct had really worried and angered the good priest, he decided to abandon any reticence and told him all that had happened since his first visit to the samurai.
The priest said.
"Hoichi, my poor friend, you are in grave danger! It was a misfortune you did not tell me all before! Your extraordinary skill in music has put you in a great deal of trouble. Know now that you have not been in a house, but spent the evenings and nights at the cemetery at the Heiké tombs, and it was right in front of Antoku Tennò's tomb that our people found you tonight, while you sat in the rain. All you saw and heard was an illusion, except for the call of the dead. As soon as you obeyed, you put them in power. If you still obey the dead after what happened, they will break you apart. But anyway, sooner or later they will destroy you. I can not stay with you tonight: I am called to do another service. But before I leave, you must protect your body by writing sacred texts on it. "
Before the sunset, the priest and his acolytes undressed Hoichi. Then, with their writing brushes, they traced them on the chest and back, hands, face and neck, arms and legs, hands and feet, even on the feet, and on all parts of the body, the text of the sacred sutra called Hannya-Shin-Kyo. In doing so, the priest instructed Hoichi and said,
"Tonight, as soon as I leave, you will have to sit on the porch and wait. You will be called. But when that happens, do not answer. Do not say anything. Stay silent as if I were immersed in meditation. If you move or do the slightest noise, you will be torn apart. Do not be scared and do not think to ask for help, because there is no help to save you. If you do exactly as I tell you, the danger will go away, and you will have nothing to fear anymore. "
When the darkness came down, the priest came out with the acolytes, and Hôichi sat on the porch in accordance with the instructions received. He put the biwa beside him on the plant and, assuming the attitude of meditation, remained in perfect silence, beware of not coughing or breathing so that he could feel it. He stayed in that position for hours.
Finally he heard some steps approaching the street. They crossed the gate, crossed the garden, approached the veranda and stopped right in front of it.
"Hey!" He called a deep voice. But the boy held his breath and continued to sit still.
"Hoichi!" He called for the second time his voice in a loud tone.
Having received no answer, he called for the third time angrily:
"Hoichi!"
Hoichi remained silent as a stone. Then the voice murmured:
"No reply. It is not possible. I have to find out where the boy is. "
He heard the sound of heavy footsteps rising on the porch and stopping beside Hoichi. For endless minutes, during which Hoichi felt the body tremble with the furious beats of his heart, there was a silence of death.
Eventually, the harsh voice murmured beside him:
"I see the biwa, but its player I do not see the two ears! That's why he did not answer: he does not have a mouth to answer, his ears have not remained for him ... Well, I will bring my ears to my Lord as proof that his august orders have been executed as quickly as possible. "
At that moment Hoichi felt grasping and snatching his fingers ears! The pain was immense, but he did not make a single cry. The sound of heavy footsteps came on the veranda again, came to the garden, went out into the street, disappeared. The blind boy felt something hot coming down from both sides of his ears, but he did not dare raise his hands ...
Before the sunrise the priest was returning. He walked straight to the porch, climbed up and slipped over something slimy that made him cry out of horror when in the light of the lantern he saw that viscous thing was blood. Then he saw Hoichi sitting in a meditation attitude, with the blood still writhing from his wounds.
"My poor Hoichi!" The priest shouted with a whirrude. "What is this? Did they hurt you? "
Listening to that friendly voice, the blind guy felt safe, burst into tears, and tearfully told the priest the stories of the past night.
"My poor Hoichi!" Exclaimed the priest. "What a terrible, unforgivable mistake I did! I have written the sacred texts on every part of your body, but I have neglected my ears! I entrusted my part of the job with my acolytes, and it was a very bad miss on my part not to have checked that they did it! But now what's done is done. Consoled, my friend. The danger has passed. You will never be disturbed by such visitors again. "
With the help of a good doctor, Hoichi's wounds healed soon. The story of his incredible adventure sprang everywhere, and soon made him famous. Many noblemen went to Akamagasheki to attend his performances and gave him large sums of money, so that he soon became rich. But since he had lived that adventure, he was always called only by the name of Mimi-nashi-Hoichi: "Hoichi the No-Ears."
END
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Author's note
"I think Hoichi's face, after Monaco said, "Uops! I forgot to writeing your ears! that's why the samurai pulled them away! My fault. Sorry. " was more or less like this .
Anyway, Hoichi will also be the greatest musician of his time, but how bad luck did he have? First your eyes, then scared by the spirits, is likely to be sliced by a samurai with the same anxiety as a T-rex that revolves around you (if you've seen Jurassic Park's movies you know what I'm talking about ) and finally take them away ears. A little pity for this musician! Not even the worst person in the world! He want just to play him guitar in peace! "